No relief for Lalu Yadav in 'Land-for-jobs' case: SC refuses to stay plea; directs Delhi HC to expedite hearing

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday declined to entertain former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav’s plea seeking a stay on trial court proceedings in the CBI’s land-for-jobs case. The apex court also said that the Delhi high court will decide on the RJD supremo's plea to quash the CBI chargesheet.A bench led by Justice M M Sundresh made it clear that it would not grant interim relief.“We will not stay. We will dismiss the appeal and we will say that let the main matter be decided. Why should we keep this small matter?” the bench asked, as quoted by LiveLaw.Yadav had approached the apex court after the Delhi high court, on May 29, refused to stay the proceedings and issued notice to the CBI on his plea for quashing the FIR. The case, filed in May 2022, pertains to Group D appointments in the West Central Railway zone during Yadav’s tenure as railway minister from 2004 to 2009, allegedly in exchange for land transfers to his family or associates.Challenging the case, Yadav alleged political vendetta, citing the absence of mandatory sanction under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act and calling the investigation a “jurisdictional error”.